Dispensers for fluent masses



Aug- 23, 1966 w. B. sPATZ DIsPENsERs Fon FLUENT MAssEs 2 SheetS-Sheet 2Filed April 21, 1964 W44 TER B. Sprz INVENTOR ATTORNEY United StatesPatent O 3,268,123 DISPENSERS FOR FLUENT MASSES Walter B. Spatz, 11182Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Apr. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 361,46520 Claims. (Cl. Z22-400.5)

The present invention relates to dispensing devices, and moreparticularly [to :dispensing types of containers from which uentsubstances can be discharged.

In United States Patent No. 3,088,636, a dispensing type of containerfor a fluent mass is disclosed, which is capable of being discharged bydecreasing the effective volume of the container forwardly of a followerdevice, after which the volume is increased to create a partial vacuumthat causes atmospheric pressure rearwardly of the follower device tomove it forwardly in the container and decrease the effective volume ofthe container by the quantity of the fluent mass previously discharged.

An object of the invention is to provide a dispensing container of thetype indicated which embodies a check valve shiftable to open positionwhen dispensing is desired Without the necessity for first subjectingthe fluent mass in the container to pressure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing container ofthe type indicated in which the initial phase of decreasing theeffective Volume of the container forwardly of the follower deviceautomatically opens the discharge or check valve without substantialapplication of pressure to the fluent mass in the container, after whichcontinued decrease of such volume applies pressure to the uent mass andproduces its dispensing through the open valve. Release of thedispensing force on the pressure applying portion of the container isaccompanied by prompt closing of the valve, followed by `return of thepressure applying portion to its initial position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing containerof the type indicated which automatically accommodates itself toincrease or decrease in volume of the fluent mass due to its temperaturerise or fall, to avoid inadvertent and undesired discharge of anyportion of the iluent mass, or damage to the container parts. Theincreased volume of the mass resulting from rise in its temperature isdissipated each time a portion of the mass is discharged from thecontainer, restoring the container to a condition capable of againaccommodating further expansion of the iluent mass resulting fromincrease in its temperature.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a dispensingcontainer from which a fluent mass can he discharged through an outletby subjecting the mass to pressure, in which the mass at the outlet isdrawn back into the container automatically as a result of discontinuingthe application of pressure thereto, thereby avoiding undesirabledrooling at the container mouth.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objectswhich may be made more clearly apparrent from a consideration of a formin which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawingsaccompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will nowbe described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the generalprinciples of the invention; but it is to be understood that suchdetailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since thescope of the invention is -best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal section through a container device embodyingthe invention, with its outlet portion closed;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through the upper portion of thecontainer disclosed in FIG. 1, with its valve open;

Patented August 23, 1966 lCe FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2,disclosing the position of the parts after the valve has been opened anda portion of the uent mass in the container has been dispensed;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view taken as indicated by the lines 4-4 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmenta-ry section of a portion of the containerdevice;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section taken along the line 6 6 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross-section taken along the line 7 7 on FIG. l;

FIG. 8 is an isometric View of the container device disclosed in theother figures, but on a smaller scale.

The container `device A illustrated in the drawings is adapted to hold afluent or fluid-type mass M, such as toothpaste, sunburn lotion, handcream, mayonnaise, and the like, the particular mass being controllablydispensed from the container by the application of finger pressure to aportion thereof.

As specifically shown, a container or tube 10 has a rear end wall 11integral or frictionally held therein provided with a hole or air vent12 to permit air at atmospheric pressure to enter the rear portion ofthe container and act upon a one-Way follower device 13 slidable in aforward direction only in the container. This follower device is at therear of the fluent mass M in the container, the forward part of which isdisposed within an inner generally cup-shaped head 14 reciprocable inthe forward portion of the container. The inner head or spout portion ofthe container has a discharge outlet or mouth 15 through which thecontents of the container can be expelled, this outlet or mouth beingclosed by a suitable plug or valve device 17.

The inner head 14 includes a skirt conforming in shape to the inner wall18 of the container and having a downwardly facing lip 19 adapted toslidably and sealingly engage the inner container wall. This skirtportion merges into `an end wall 20 from which a nozzle 21 projects thathas the discharge opening, outlet or mouth 15 at its outer end, thenozzle extending through an opening 22 -in the outer end wall 23 of anouter head 24 having a depending skirt 25 extending slidably along theexterior or periphery 26 of the container or tube 10. The outer end wall23 has a depending hollow boss 27 integral therewith receiving a pinportion 28 of the valve member 17, which is integral with a transversea-rm 29 of the latter, the arm, in turn, being integral with an upwardlyprojecting valve stem 30 integral with a valve head 31 adapted to engagethe outer end or valve seat 32 of the nozzle and close its outlet ormouth 15.

The extent of outward movement of the valve head 31 and its appropriatecentering and sealing in the outlet mouth 15 is determined by engagementof an inclined surface 33 on the head with the companion inclinedsurface 34 of its seat at one side of the outlet or mouth, which tapersfrom the adjacent wall of the nozzle 21 in a direction toward its outletor mouth 15. The extent of outward movement of the valve head isprimarily limited by engage-ment of a shoulder 35, extending inwardlyfrom the outer end of the head 31, with the end 36 of the nozzle at theside of its mouth 15 opposite the inclined surface 34, and by engagementof the arm 29 with the end wall 20.

The outer head 24 and the valve member 17 are secured together, beingmovable as a unit with respect to the inner head or spout 14. Thus, theboss 27 projecting inwardly from the outer end wall 23 of the outer headprojects through a companion opening 37 in the end wall 20 of the innerhead and engages the arm 29, the pin 28 extending outwardly from thetransverse valve arm, in turn, engaging the inner end of the boss.Separation between the valve member 17 and the outer hea-d 24 isprevented by a circumferential rib 38 on the pin disposed within acompanion circumferential groove 39 in the boss. Since the parts arepreferably made of an elastic material, as a suitable synthetic resin,the pin 28 can be pushed into the boss socket 40, the rib 38 on the pindeiiecting inwardly and passing into the bore of the socket, thenexpanding outwardly into the companion groove 39, to thereby rmly securethe outer head 24 to the valve member 37. The outer head 24 and Valvemember `17 are movable longitudinally relative to the inner head 14 by adistance sufficient to insure movement of the valve member 17 inwardlyaway from the outlet or mouth 15, in order to open the latter. When thevalve element 17 is in closed position within the nozzle 21 against thetapered seat portions 34, 36 of the latter, a gap or space existsbetween the inner and outer end walls 20, 23, the inner end wall 20 thenresting upon the transverse arm 29 of the valve member (FIG. l). Theexertion of finger pressure, or the like, against the outer end wall 23will move it toward the inner end wall 20, the valve member 17 movingwith the outer head member 24 and within the nozzle 21 to shift thevalve head 31 inwardly away from its companion seat 32 defining themouth of the nozzle. The extent of such opening is determined byengagement of the outer end wall 23 with the inner end wall 20, asdisclosed in FIG. 2. Continued application of inward for-ce on the outerend wall 23 or head 24 then results in axial inward movement of theinner head 14 and its application of pressure to the uent mass M in thecontainer 10, discharging a portion of the mass through the open mouth15 of the nozzle 21 (FIG. 3). Leakage of the mass around the exterior ofthe inner head 14 is prevented by the slidable sealing of its lip 19against the inner wall 18 of the container, while leakage between theboss 27 and the inner end wall is prevented by an inwardly facing lipseal 4S projecting inwardly from the en-d wall 20 sealingly engaging theperiphery of the boss. Release of the inwardly directed force on theouter head 24 permits it to return to its initial position, carrying thevalve 17 with it to rst close the nozzle outlet 15 and then returningthe inner head t14 in a forward direction to its initial position.

The outer head 24 and valve member 17 are urged in an outward directionby a helical compression spring 46 disposed in an annular space 47between the inner and outer heads, with its outer end bearing againstthe end wall 23 of the outer head. The end portion of the springsurrounds a circular rib 48 extending inwardly from the outer end wall23 to hold the spring in a position adjacent to the outer wall skirt 25.The inner end of the spring is disposed within a U-shaped annular springseat 49, the outer portion of which is engageable with a upwardly facingshoulder 50 on the skirt 25. The inner wall 51 of the spring seat has aflange 52 extending inwardly therefrom overlying an upwardly facingshoulder 53 on the exterior of the skirt 17l of the inner head. Whendispensing of the uent mass M is not occurring, it is preferred that thespring seat 49 engage the shoulder 50 on the outer head skirt 25, andthe the ange 52 be spaced outwardly a slight distance from the innerhead shoulder 53 such that a spring force is not being imposed on theinner head 14 when the dispenser is not being used. Transmission of suchspring force to the head l14 might have the undesired effect ofeventually pulling the ribs 38 from the groove 39 and the pin portion 28from the boss socket 40.

The spring seat 49 engages the outer end 10a of the container or tube10, or it may be space-d slightly from it by a short distance when theouter head is in its nondispensing position on the tube. At this time,another inner and upwardly directed shoulder 55 of the skirt is disposedbelow a companion shoulder 56 on an outwardly directed flange 57 at theupper end of the cou tainer 10. When the spring seat 49 engages theshoulder 50, the distance between the base of the spring seat and theskirt shoulder 55 is substantially greater than the distance between theupper end 10a of the tube 10 and its shoulder 56. As a result, theentire head and valve assembly 14, 24, 17, 46, 49 can float as a unitupwardly and downwardly of the container between limits. Upward movementis limited by engagement of the shoulder 55 with the shoulder 56,downward oating movement being limited by engagement of the spring seat49 with the end 10a of the container. Because of this arrangement, theentire head assembly is movable longitudinally of the tube or container10 to a signiiicant degree without applying pressure to the fluent massM in the container, described hereinbelow.

The follower device 13 includes a piston 60 having a forwardly directedannular lip type seal 61 for slidable sealing engagement with the wall18 of the container or tube 10. Mounted on the rea-r portion of thepiston is a one-Way latch device 62 including a central hub portion 63adapted to t over and be secured to a rearwardly directed .stem portion64 of the piston, the latch device including generally radialspring-like arms 65 which are inclined outwardly and rearwardly towardthe wall I18 of the container, the outer end 66 of each arm engagingsuch wall. When the head 14 is depressed to dispense the uent mass Mfrom the container, the pressure developed in the mass cannot shift thefollower device v13 rearwardly since the outer ends 66 of t'he latchfingers or arms 65 grip the inner wall of the container. However, whenthe pressure on the outer head 24 is released and it moves in adirection outwar-dly of the container 10, a partial vacuum `is createdin the uent mass forwardly of the piston 60 and the atmospheric pressureentering the rear of the container through the hole or air vent 12 actsupon the piston and moves it forwardly -against the fluent mass, thearms l65 sliding forwardly along the wall :18.

Initially, the follower device 13 is disposed adjacent Vto the rear Wall11, the fluent mass filling the container forwandly of the piston andalso being disposed within the -inner head 1.4 and its nozzle 21. Atthis time, the spring seat 49 may be resting upon or be disposedimmediately above Ithe outer end 10a of the container or tube, thespring seat engaging the shoulder 50 of the outer skirt 25, the valve 31closing the outlet or mouth 15. The parts are then in the conditionillustrated in FIG. l. Assuming a portion of the uent mass M is to bedispensed through lthe nozzle 21, inward pressure, as by use of a nlger,is imposed on the outer end wall 23 of the outer head 24. The inner head14 cannot move inwardly or rearwandly at this time because of thepresence of the uent mass. Accordingly, such inward lpressure will firstmove the plug or valve member 17 inwardly to open the outlet or mouth 15to the extent determined by engagement of the outer end wall 23 with theinner end wall 20, as shown in FIG. 2. The shifting of the boss 27within the inner end wall 20 and the interior of the inner head 14 willdevelop a relatively small pressure in the fluent mass M, but thedecreased volume in the inner h ead is relatively small, and Whateverpressure is developed will be promptly dissipated upon slight inwardmovement and disengagement of the valve head 31 from its companion seat32.

Additional inward movement of the outer head 24 and its end wall causesthe outer head skirt 25 to slide along the lperiphery of the containeror tube 10 and shifts the inner head 14 inwardly of the container,decreasing the volume in the latter forwardly of the piston 60 andcausing a quantity of iiuent mass corresponding to the decrease involume to be discharged through the open outlet or mouth 15. During suchinward movement of the heads 14, 24 and the valve or plug 17 attached tothe outer head, the spring 46 is compressed because of engagement of thespring seat 49 with the end 10a of the tube.

When the linger pressure on the outer end wall 23 is released, thespring 46 expands and first shifts the outer head 24 and its valvemember 17 in an axial outward direction, the inner head 14 at firstremaining in the inward -position to which it has been shifted, thevalve member head 31 mov-ing outwardly into engagement with itscompanion seat 32 to close the mouth 15 of the nozzle 21 and thetransverse arm engaging the end wall 20 of the inner head. Continuedexpansion of the spring 46 then causes the outer head 24, inner head `14and valve member 17 to move outwardly as a unit to return all of theparts to their initial position with respect to the container or tube10. Dur-ing such outward shifting of the inner head 14, a partial vacuumis created within the container forwardly of the piston 60, inasmuch asthe valve head 31 has closed the outlet 15 preventing air at atmosphericpressure from entering the forward portion of the container.Accordingly, the greater atmospheric pressure rearwardly of the piston60 is effective to shift the latter forwardly against the fluent mass M,the latter being caused to completely fill the container space forwardlyof the piston.

When the head 14 has been pushed inwardly to apply pressure to thefluent mass, the one-way latch device 62` on the piston precludes thelatter yfrom -moving in a rearward direction. As a result, the mass M isdispensed from the container by an amount corresponding to the Iinwarddisplacement of the inner head 14, which acts as a pump piston ingenerating a pressure in the fluent mass `and discharging it through theopen outlet or mouth 15.

As described hereinbefore, normally there is a longitudinal'spacebetween the skirt shoulder 55 and the tube shoulder 56. As a result, inthe event the temperature of the fluent mass M increases, itscorresponding increase in volume will -merely shift the heads 14, 24 inan outward direction. The heads act as a movable portion of an expansionchamber to accommodate the increase in volume of the fluent mass. Theheads, in effect, function as a floating closure for the container 10.I-f the temperature of the mass M decreases, its volume will alsodecrease, the heads 14, 24 moving rearwardly or inwardly of thecontainer `to automatically compensate for the reduced volume, thepressure of the fluent mass remaining substantially atmospheric. In thisconnection, it is important that the friction drag of the inner andouter heads 14, 24 along the inner and outer walls 18, 26 of thecontainer 10 be less than that of the follower device 13 along the innerwall 18. Otherwise, a decrease in temperature of the fluent mass M wouldresult in forward movement of the follower device 13 in the containerrather than descent or inward movement of the heads 14, `24 along thecontainer or tube. Assuming a previous rather large increase intemperature has shifted the heads 14, 24 outwardly to substantiallytheir fullest extent, at which the shoulders 55, 56 are on the verge ofabutting, a subsequent substantial decrease in temperature of the massand corresponding reduction in its volume would, if the friction of theheads against the container 10 were greater than the friction of ythefollower device 13 along the container, result in forward feeding of thefollower device 13. Subsequent increase in temperature would then causethe volume of the fluent mass to again increase, the heads beingincapable of moving outwardly to compensate foir the increased volumebecause of engagement between `the shoulders 55, 56, the one-way latchdevice 62 preventing rearward movement of the follower device 13. Theresult would be dischange of some of the mass M or breakage of the latchfingers 63, or other parts. However, this does not occur, inasmuch asthe head 14 float-s inwardly and outwardly of the container 10 tocompensate for decrease or increase in temperature of the mass, nomovement of the piston 60 resulting because of the temperature change.

Assuming the heads 14, 24 have moved outwardly of the container tocompensate for thermal expansion of the fluent mass M, subsequent inward.shifting of the heads 14, 24 to discharge part of the fluent massdissipates the increased volume, so that release of the inward pumpingforce from the heads causes them to return to their initial positionsdisposed further inwardly along the container. Thus, the floating headscan move outwardly a greater distance in the event of later rise intemperatu-re of the fluent mass.

It is to be noted that the inward shifting of the boss 27 relative tothe end wall 20 of the inner head results in a slight pressure beingdeveloped in the fluent mass M, which is almost immediately dissipatedbecause of the prompt removal of the valve head 31 from engagement withits companion seat 32. Continued inward movement of the boss 27, untilthe outer end wall 23 engages the inner end lwall 2i) results in some,although slight, displacement of the fluent mass through the outlet ormouth 15. If the cross-sectional area Y of the boss is made larger thanthat of the mouth or discharge orifice 15 of the nozzle 21, the returnor outward movement of the boss relative to the inner head or spout 14,to replace the plug or valve head 31 in engagement with its seat 32,will create a slight vacuum or suction within the container, causingso-me suck-back through the orifice or mouth 15, `thereby clearing thelatter of any adherent portion of the fluent mass previously dispensed.Accordingly, the making of the area Y greater than the area of theorifice 15 avoids undesirable drooling upon release of the pressure onthe outer head 24 and the reshifting of the valve member 17 to lclosedposition. Of course, subsequent outward movement of the outer and innerheads 24, 14 with the valve closed creates a substantially greatersuction within the container 10, causing the follower or chaser 13 tomove .in a forward direction by an amount corresponding to the volume ofthe fluent mass previously displaced.

It is, accordingly, apparent that a dispensing container has beenprovided in which opening of the check valve device 17 occur-smechanically without the necessity for effecting its opening as a resultof applying pressure to the fluent mass. Pressure is imposed on the massonly after the valve has been shifted to its open position, after whichthe pumping action on the inner head or spout 14 occurs to effectdischange of the contents M of the lcontainer through the nozzle ororice 15. As soon as the pump `force on the outer head 24 is released,the valve 17 promptly returns to its closed position. If the boss hasthe l.greater area Y than that of the orifice area, a slightback-sucking lor suction action in the orifice 15 will occur tosubstantially clear the latter of the fluent material. Thereafter, theheads 14, 24 ascend as a unit to return them to their initial posit-ion,creating suction in the container and causing the atmospheric pressurebehind the follower device 13 to -shi-ft it forwardly. Repeateddispensing results in a lprogressive forward `shifting of the followerdevice 13 until it contacts the inner head 14, into which it can fit tobe assured of dislpensing substantially `the full contents of thecontainer.

I claim:

1. In a dispenser for a fluent mass: a container for the mass; closuremeans for the container and having an outlet; a valve member movablerelative to said closure means to open and close said outlet; saidclosure means being movable in a direction inwardly of said container toapply pressure to the mass therein and force it through said outlet; andactuating means connected to said valve member for shifting said valvemember to open position whereby subsequent movement of said closuremeans in a direction inwardly of said container applies pressure to thefluent mass therein and forces a portion of said mass through the openoutlet.

2. In a dispenser for a fluent mass: a container for the mass; movableclosure means for the container and having an outlet; a valve membermovable relative to said closure means and said container to open andclose said outlet; and actuating vmeans operatively associated ,withsaid valve member and closure means for shifting said valve member toopen position and for then forcing said closure means in a directionin-wardly of said container against the mass in said container to applypressure thereto and force a portion of the mass through the openoutlet.

3. In a dispenser for a uent mass: a container for the mass; closuremeans for the container and having an outlet; piston means in saidcontainer movable in a forward direction toward said closure means andagainst the mass in the container; means for resisting movement of saidpiston means in said container in a rearward direction while permittingmovement of the piston means in a forward direction in the container;valve means movable relative to said closure means to open and closesaid outlet; said closure means being movable with respect to saidcontainer to apply pressure to the mass therein and force it throughsaid outlet; and actuating means operatively associated with said val-vemeans for shifting said valve means to open position whereby subsequentmovement of said closure means relative to said container appliespressure to the uent mass therein forwardly of said piston means andforces a portion of said mass through the open outlet.

4. In a dispenser for a fluent mass: a container for the mass; closuremeans for the container and having an outlet; piston means in saidcontainer movable in a forward direction toward said closure means andagainst the mass in the container; means for resisting movement of saidpiston means in said container in a rearward direction while permittingmovement of the pis-ton means in a forward direction in the container;Valve means movable relative to said closure means to open and closesaid outlet; and actuating means operatively `associated with said valvemeans and closure means for shifting said valve means to open positionand for then forcing said closure means against the mass forwardly ofsaid piston means to apply pressure thereto.

5. In a dispenser for a uent mass: a container for the mass; movableclosure means for the container and having an outlet; a vlalve membermovable relative to said closure means to open and close said outlet;actuating means operatively associated with said valve member andclosure means for shifting said valve member to open position and forthen forcing said closure means in a direction inwardly of saidcontainer against the mass in said container to apply pressure .theretoand Iforce a portion of the mass through the open outlet; and means forreturning said valve member to outlet closing position and said closuremeans in a direction outwardly of said container to its initialposition.

6. In a dispenser for a uent mass: a container for the mass; closuremeans for the container and having an outlet; piston means in saidcontainer movable in a forward direction toward said closure means andagainst the mass in the container; means for resisting movement of saidpiston means in said container in a rearward direction while permittingmovement of the piston means in a forward direction in the container;valve means movable relative to said closure means to open and closesaid outlet; actuating means operatively associated with said valvemeans and closure means for shifting said valve means to open positionand for then forcing said closure means against the mass forwardly ofsaid piston means to apply pressure thereto; and means for returningsaid valve means to outlet closing position and said closure means toits initial position.

7. In a dispenser for a iiuent mass: a container for the mass; closuremeans for the container and having an outlet; a valve member inwardly ofsaid closure means and movable relative to said container in an outwarddirection to close said outlet and in an inward direction to open saidoutlet; said closure means being movable with respect to said containerto apply pressure to the mass therein and force it through said outlet;and actuating means operable from the exterior of said closure means forshifting said valve member inwardly of said closure means to openposition whereby subsequent movement of said closure means relative tosaid container applies pressure to the fluent mass therein and forces aportion of said mass through the open outlet.

8. In a dispenser for a fluent mass: a container for the mass; closuremeans for the container and having an outlet; a valve member inwardly ofsaid closure means and movable relative to said container in an outwarddirection to close said outlet and in an inward direction to open saidoutlet; and actuating means operable from the exterior of said closuremeans and movable relative to said container for shifting said valvemember inwardly of said closure means to open position and for thenforcing said closure means against the mass in said container to applypressure thereto and force a portion of the mass through the openoutlet.

9. In a dispenser for a fluent mass: a container for the mass; closuremeans for the container and having an outlet; piston means in saidcontainer movable in a forward direction toward said closure means andagainst the mass in the container; means for resisting movement of saidpiston means in said container in a rearward direction while permittingmovement of said piston means in the container in a forward direction;valve means inwardly of said closure means and movable in an outwarddirection to close said outlet and in an inward direction to open saidoutlet; and actuating mean operable from the exterior of said closuremeans for shifting said valve means inwardly of said closure means toopen position and for then forcing said closure means against the massforwardly of said piston means to apply pressure thereto.

10. In a dispenser for a fluent mass: a container for the mass; closuremeans for the container sealingly mounted in said container and havingan outlet and movable in a direction inwardly of said container againstthe mass to apply pressure thereto and dispense a portion of the massthrough said outlet; actuating means connected to said closure means andslidable along the exterior of said container; means for closing saidoutlet; said closure means and actuating means being mounted on saidcontainer to be moved bodily therealong as a unit by the mass with saidoutlet closed and thereby permit automatic change in the effectivevolume of said container in accordance with variations in volume of themassin said container due to change in the temperature of said mass.

11. In a dispense-r for a uent mass: a container for the mass; closuremeans for the container sealingly mounted in said container and havingan outlet and movable in a direction inwardly of said container againstthe mass to apply pressure thereto and dispense a portion of the massthrough said outlet; actuating means connected to said closure means andslidable along the exterior of said container; means for closing saidoutlet; said closure means and actuating means being axially slidablealong said container as a unit by the mass with said outlet closed tothereby permit automatic change in the effective volume of saidcontainer in response to variation in the volume of the mass in saidcontainer due to temperature changes of such mass.

12. In a dispense-r for a fluent mass: a container for the mass; closuremeans for the container having an outlet; piston means in said containermovable in a forward direction toward said closure means and against themass in said container; means for resisting movement of said pistonmeans in said container in a rearward direction while permittingmovement of the piston means in the forward direction; means forselectively opening and closing said outlet; said closure means beingmovable with respect to said container against the fluent mass thereinto apply pressure the-reto and force it through the outlet; said closuremeans being axially slidable on said container with said outlet closedto automatically change the effective volume of said container forwardlyof said piston means in response to variations in the volume of the massin said container due to temperature changes of such mass.

13. In a dispenser for a fluent mass: a container for the mass; closuremeans for the container having an outlet; piston means in said containermovable in a forward direction toward said closure means and against themass in said container; means for resisting movement of said pistonmeans in said container in a rearward direction while permittingmovement of said piston means in the forward direction; means forselectively opening and closing said outlet; said closure means beingmovable with respect to said container against the fluent mass thereinto apply pressure thereto and force it through the outlet; said closu-remeans being axially slidable on said container to automatically changethe eiective volume of said container forwardly of said piston means inresponse to variations in the volume of the mass in said container dueto temperature changes of such mass; the frictional resistance to axialsliding of said closure means on said container being substantially lessthan the frictional resistance to movement of said piston meansforwardly in said container.

14. In a dispenser for a uent mass: a container for the mass; anactuating head having an outlet and being slidable axially in saidcontainer to apply pressure to the fluent mass therein and force itthrough said outlet; a valve member inwardly of said head movablerelative to said head in an outward direction to close said outlet andin an inward direction to open said outlet; actuating means extendingthrough and shiftable with respect to said head and connected to saidvalve member to shift said valve member between open and closedpositions, said actuating means being movable in one direction to shiftsaid valve member to open position and to then shift said head axiallyin said container to apply pressure to the fluent mass therein; andmeans for shifting said actuating means in the opposite direction toiirst move said valve member to close position and then return said headto its initial position.

15. In a dispenser for a fluent mass: a container for the mass; anactuating head having an outlet and being slidable axially in saidcontainer to apply pressure to the fluent mass therein and force itthrough said outlet; a valve member inwardly of said head movablerelative to said head in an outward direction to close said outlet andin an inward direction to open said outlet; actuating means extendingthrough and shiftable with respect to said head and connected to saidvalve member to shift said val-ve member between open and closedpositions, said actuating means being movable in one direction to shiftsaid valve member to open position and to then shift said head axiallyin said container to apply pressure to the uent mass therein; and springmeans engaging said actuating means and engageable with said containerfor shifting said actuating means in the opposite direction to firstmove said valve member to closed position and then return said head toits initial position.

16. In a dispenser for a fluent mass: a container for the mass; anactuating head having an outlet and shiftable axially in said containerto apply pressure in the iiuent mass therein and force it through saidoutlet; a valve member inwardly of said head movable relative to saidhead in an outward direction to close said outlet and in an inwarddirection to open said outlet; piston means in said container movable ina forward direction toward said head and against the mass in sa-idcontainer; means for resisting movement of said piston means in saidcontainer in a rearward direction while permitting movement of thepist-on means in the forward direction; actuating means extendingthrough and shiftable with respect to said head and connected to saidvalve member to shift said valve member between open and closedpositions, said actuating means being movable in one direction to shiftsaid valve member to open position and to then shift said head axiallyin said container to apply pressure to the fluent mass therein; andmeans for shifting said actuating me-ans in the opposite direction tofirst move said valve member to closed position and then return saidhead to its initial position.

17. In a dispenser for a uent mass: a container for the mass; an inneractuating head having an outlet and being slidable axially in saidcontainer to apply pressure to the fluent mass therein and force itthrough said outlet; a valve member inwardly of said head movablerelative to said head in an outward direction to close said outlet andin an inward direction to open said outlet; an outer head slidableaxially on said container; means extending through said inner head andconnecting said outer head to said valve member to shift said valvemember between open and closed positions, said outer head being movablefrom an initial position axially inwardly of said container to shiftsaid valve member to open position and to then shift said inner headaxially inwardly of said container to apply pressure to the fluent masstherein; and spring means engaging said outer head and engageable withsaid container for shifting said outer head axially outwardly of saidcontainer toward its initial position to first move said valve member toclosed position and then return said inner head axially to its initialposition.

18. In a dispenser for a fluent mass: a container for the mass; an inneractuating head having an outlet and being slidable axially in saidcontainer to apply pressure to the fluent mass therein an-d force itthrough said outlet; a valve member inwardly of said head movablerelative to said head in an -outward direction to close said outlet andin an inward direction to open said outlet; an outer head slidableaxially on said container; means extending through said inner head andconnecting said outer head to said valve member to shift said valvemember between open and closed positions, said outer head being movablefrom an initial position axially inwardly of said container to shiftsaid valve member to open position and to then shift said inner headaxially inwardly of said container to apply pressure to the fluent masstherein; spring means engaging said outer head and engageable with saidcontainer for shifting said outer head axially outwardly of saidcontainer toward its initial position to rst move said valve member toclosed position and then return said inner head axially to its initialposition; stop means on said outer head engaging said spring means whensaid outer head is in its initial position to prevent said spring meansfrom bearing against said container and to permit said head to iioat asa unit axially of said container in response to changes in volume of thefluent mass due to temperature changes of said mass.

19. In a dispenser for a fluent mass: a container for the mass; an inneractuating head having an outlet and being slidable axially in saidcontainer to apply pressure to the fluent mass therein and force itthrough said outlet; a valve member inwardly of said head movablerelative to said head in an outward direction to close said outlet andin an inward direction to open said outlet; an outer head slidableaxially on said container; means extending through said inner head andconnecting said outer head to said valve member to shift said valvemember between open and closed positions, said outer head being movablefrom an initial position axially inwardly of said container to shiftsaid valve member to open position and to then shift said inner headaxially inwardly of s-aid container to apply pressure to the fluent masstherein; spring mean-s engaging said outer head and engageable with saidcontainer for shifting said outer head axially outwardly of saidcontainer toward its initial position to first move said valve member toclosed position and then return said inner head axially to its initialposition; and coengageable stop means on said container and one of saidheads for limiting the extent of shifting said heads in a directionaxially outwardly of said container.

20. In a dispenser for a iluent mass: a container for the mass; an inneractuating head having an outlet and shiftable axially in said containerto apply pressure to the fluent mass therein and force it through saidoutlet; piston means in said container movable in a forward directiontoward said inner head and against the mass in said container; means forresisting movement of said piston means in said container in a rearwarddirection while permitting movement of said piston means in the forwarddirection; a valve member inwardly of said head mov-able relative tosaid head in an outward direction to close said outlet and in an inwarddirection to open said outlet; an outer head slidable axially on s-aidcontainer; means extending through said inner head and connecting saidouter head to said Valve member, said outer head being movable from aninitial position axially inwardly of said container to shift said valvemember to open position and to then shift said inner head axiallyinwardly of said container to apply pressure to the fluent mass therein;spring means engaging said outer head and engageable with said containerfor shifting said outer head axially outwardly of said container towardits initial position to first move said valve member to closed positionand then return said inner head axially to its initial position; stopmeans on said ISE outer he-ad engaging said spring means when said outerhead is in its initial position to prevent said spring means frombearing against said container and to permit said heads to floataxial-ly of said container in response to c'h-anges in volume of thefluent mass due to temperature changes of said mass; and coengageablestop means on said container and one of said heads for limiting theextent of shifting of said heads in a direction axially outw-ardly ofsaid container.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,088,636 5/ 1963Spatz 222-494 X FOREIGN PATENTS 773,963 10/1934 France.

EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Examiner.

N. L. STACK, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A DISPENSER FOR A FLUENT MASS: A CONTAINER FOR THE MASS; CLOSUREMEANS FOR THE CONTAINER AND HAVING AN OUTLET; A VALVE MEMBER MOVABLERELATIVE TO SAID CLOSURE MEANS TO OPEN AND CLOSE SAID OUTLET; SAIDCLOSURE MEANS BEING MOVABLE IN A DIRECTION INWARDLY OF SAID CONTAINER TOAPPLY PRESSURE TO THE MASS THEREIN AND FORCE IT THROUGH SAID OUTLET; ANDACTUATING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID VALVE MEMBER FOR SHIFTING SAID VALVEMEMBER TO OPEN POSITION WHEREBY SUBSEQUENT MOVEMENT OF SAID CLOSUREMEANS IN A DIRECTION INWARDLY OF SAID CONTAINER APPLIES PRESSURE TO THEFLUENT MASS THEREIN AND FORCES A PORTION OF SAID MASS THROUGH THE OPENOUTLET.